Unable to draw NHL interest, Hasek decides to retire

New York, NY (Sports Network) - Dominik Hasek has finally decided to hang up
the skates for good.

The 47-year-old goaltender hadn't played professionally since 2010-11, when he
suited up in four games for Spartak Moscow in Russia's Kontinental Hockey
League. Hasek also saw action in 13 games for Pardubice in the Czech Extraliga
three seasons ago.

According to an NHL.com story on Tuesday, Hasek expressed his wish to play
exhibition games in the American Hockey League in preparation for an expected
NHL return, and that one NHL club remained in contact. However, that club
apparently told Hasek's agent that they weren't interested anymore.

Sabres general manager Darcy Regier told the Buffalo News back in mid-July
that he and head coach Lindy Ruff joined Hasek in meetings to discuss a
possible return, but that the club decided not to press any further.

Hasek last suited up in North America for the Detroit Red Wings in 2008,
helping the club win their fourth Stanley Cup in an 12-year span thanks to a
27-10-3 mark with a 2.14 goals-against average and five shutouts.

A former 10th round pick of the Chicago Blackhawks in 1983, Hasek didn't make
his NHL debut until 1990.

He starred for the Sabres from 1992-01, taking home six Vezina Trophies, a
pair of Hart Trophies as league MVP along with two Jennings Trophies for
allowing the fewest total goals in that span.

Voted an All-Star on six occasions, Hasek participated in 735 regular-season
games with Chicago, Buffalo, Detroit and Ottawa, going 389-223-95 with a 2.20
GAA and 81 whitewashes. In the playoffs, the flexible netminder finished 65-49
with 14 shutouts and a 2.02 GAA. He won his first Cup with the Wings in 2002,
then retired, only to return to Motown for the 2003-04 season.

In addition, he represented Czechoslovakia/Czech Republic in four Olympic
Winter Games (1988, 1998, 2002, 2006), backstopping the Czechs to gold in '98.